Industrial Strength: August 15

HIP HOP-MEETS-ELECTRONIC SONGSHUB BEGINS IN MELBOURNE

The inaugural hip-hop and electronic-focused SongHubs began a five-day writing session at Melbourne’s Bakehouse Studios yesterday. The idea is to come up with songs for the Australian and international market.

The project is coordinated by One Love’s Ant Celestino, hip-hop DJ and WVS A&R manager Mat Cant, and international guest and Grammy-winning producer Carl ‘Cardiak’ McCormick, whose credits include Eminem, J. Cole and Dr. Dre.

The names assembled for this week are Solo from Horrorshow, Tkay Maidza, I.E., Lewis Cancut, Blaq Carrie, Jia Lih, François, Jack Madin of SHOUSE, Alice Ivy, LANKS, Kaiit, Kwasi, Juñor, Plutonic Lab and Luna.

Launched in 2013, SongHubs has already produced commercial releases for the likes of Troye Sivan, Client Liaison, Demi Louise, Tigertown, Nicole Millar, Guy Sebastian, SAFIA and Reece Mastin.

APRA AMCOS and Creative Victoria are also partners in the sessions.“Partnering for a dedicated hip-hop and electronic session was proposed by the team at One Love, who know first-hand what can be achieved at SongHubs,”APRA AMCOS’Director of Member Relations, Milly Petriella, said.

“Their sponsorship and curation has brought the session to life, and will no doubt result in dynamic new works and collaborations.”

YOU AM I HIT THE ROOF

You Am I played the roof of Sydney’s landmark eastern suburbs live music venue The Sheaf as over 80,000 people from Sunday’s City2Surf thundered by.

The surprise killer one-hour set covered all their classics, and took place before they return to Sydney on Thursday August 31 for A Fist Full Of Rock with the Hoodoo Gurus, Jebediah and Adalita at the Enmore Theatre.

Windmill impersonator Tim Rogers quipped, “We have tried, through dishwashing and carpet cleaning to pay off a bar tab, however it has been a Sisyphean ordeal. Hence, our little group will attempt to square the ledger by performing cult hits from the first floor awning.”

A live Facebook feed can be seen here.

“The Sheaf’s been supporting local Aussie artists for decades, and this is definitely the biggest indie act we’ve hosted to date,” addedDan Lacaze, Marketing Director for the Sheaf.

“We wanted the guys from You Am I to rock hard, and they did, to give everyone a little extra motivation on their run.”

MUSICNSW ADDS TO SOUND ADVICE PANELS

The latest in MusicNSW’s Sound Advice panels and masterclass series is on August 15 9that’s tonight, for those playing at home) between 6–9pm at the Lansdowne Hotel. It is free with RSVP.

At 6pm is Funding Fundamentals:Emily Collins (MusicNSW), Caroline McKnight (APRA AMCOS), and reps from Australia Council and Create NSW will offer tips on what funding is out there and how to get it.

From 7.15pm is a Sounds Australia panel calledExporting In 2017 & Beyond with its Executive Producer Millie Millgate and Export Music Producer Glenn Dickie.

More information at www.musicnsw.com/soundadvice.

GOLDEN STAVE BACK TO LUNCHING

The music industry’s charity Golden Stave is this year turning back the clock. It’s gone back to having its luncheon, and at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney where the fun and frolics took place in the ‘90s.

Performers confirmed so far for the Friday October 20 lunch are Ian Moss and Diesel.

DEEZER, GOOGLE HOME INTEGRATION, NEXT TO AUSTRALIA

Australia is one of the next countries to get French streaming company Deezer’s move into Internet-connected speaker with its Google Home integration.

It’s out now in France and Germany, and Australia is the next priority, alongside the US, UK and Canada.

Deezer customers can use Google Home to provide choices or create choices from its Flow smart playlist.

MUSIC STREAMING THROUGH A SALT SHAKER?

But forget smarter smartphones and chatty speakers to stream music through. According to Ad News, there’s a smart salt shaker that streams music and provides mood lighting.

An ad has emerged in the U.S. highlighting the helpful little fella, called Smalt. It also, yes, provides salt AND helps you track your sodium intake. If a current $25,000 crowd-funding campaign rolls in the dough, it’ll be in production by March.

NEW VENUE FOR SA AWARDS

This year’s South Australian Music Awards (Thursday November 9) is held at Thebby Lane, the new boutique ’venue within Thebarton Theatre which offers an intimate atmosphere and its own laneway entrance off Danby Street car park.

Last week the awards announced that public voting was open until August 31 and that Henry Wagons was MC.

Nominees for 29 categories number 140. Among those making national waves are A.B. Original, Tkay Maidza, Bad//Dreems, Timberwolf, West Thebarton, Grenadiers, Germein Sisters, The Winter Gypsy, Lonelyspeck, The Bitter Darlings, We May Be CrEatures, Tom West, Ross McHenry, Dino Jag, Yeahyeahabsolutelynoway! and The Coconut Kids.

The ten SA judges include Emma Coyle (Music SA), Luke Penman (Radio Adelaide), Trials (A.B. Original) and Alice Fraser (Lunatic Entertainment).

The awards’ ten national judges includeRebecca Young(Collective Artists), Dan Sant (The Harbour Agency), Jess Beston (Tiny Monster), Johann Ponniah (I Oh You) and Harvey Saward (Remote Control Records).

APPLE MUSIC TO RELEASE CHIEF KEEF DOCO

Apple Music’s latest ventureinto original content is a Chief Keef documentary The Story Of Sosa: The Movie in December.

It covers the Chicago rapper, producer and fashion designer, also known as Sosa, from his time in jail as a teenager, being shot by cops, his multi-million dollar with Interscope, an escape from a rehab facility and the impact of his music on rap.

WAS A ‘BOMB’ REALLY A POEM?

Back in June, a package was found near a building in the New Zealand city of Dunedin.

With it was attached the message “When there’s nothing left to lose, i will firebomb your car. i will hack into your computer, i will leak trade & state SECRETS./ i will hammer holes in your office windows/. i will raise [sic] your buildings to the ground/ i will bring you down.”

The city centre was evacuated and the Defence Forces arrived by helicopter to douse it out.

Dene Barnes of the band LSD Fundraiser has fronted up to court to explain that the message was not a bomb threat but a copy of the cover art of his band’s StreetNOISE tape, which they leave around the city as a promotion.

Barnes told the judge it was poetry, while his lawyer evoked the works of The Beatles and Jefferson Airplane. His Honour was given a copy of the artistic work. “That’s a poem, is it?” he rumbled. “Looks like a threat.”

Looks like they’ve got their work cut out for them.

MORE CBAA PANELS

The two latest panels announced by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia for the CBAA Conference program cover youth engagement and content exchanges.

Youth engagement asks stations to look at why no new faces might be walking through the door to get involved, and if they are, are they getting the support from management?

The level of content exchange can be increased via the national Community Radio Network (CRN), including 100 weekly shows and countless specials through the year.

Earlier workshops revealed included connecting local businesses, radio replay, content strategy, recruiting the right board members, grants and technical skills.

DANCING WITH MR. H

Calvin Harris, highest paid DJ in the world according to Forbes, is going great guns in the UK charts.

His latest toe tapper ’Feels’, elbowed ’Despacito’ off the top and gave him his eighth UK chart topper. This aligns him with The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Eminem who also have eight chart topping triumphs in Blighty.

Cliff Richard is now the only British male solo artists ahead of Calvin – with 14 #1 singles.

CLASS DIVIDE IN UK PERFORMING ARTS

A report by England’s Labour Party found that much inequality and the class divide in the UK performing arts sector, which is dominated by rich whites.

Tracy Brabin, a former actor and MP who led the inquiry says “The systematic eradication of arts education in schools, sky-high drama school audition fees, chronic low pay and a lack of diversity behind the scenes are all contributing to a diversity crisis on our stages and screens.”

Labour’s solution includes tackling low- and no-pay jobs in the sector which are only taken by people who are already wealthy, collecting more specific data on diversity, class and income, and encouraging broadcasters, film companies and theatres to employ more diverse people.

MUSICNT SURVEYING LIVE MUSIC

Research on the live music sector of the Northern Territory is currently being done by MusicNT conducted by the University of Tasmania. It is looking at its economic and cultural contributions with figures to be joining data already collected Australia-wide.

BRISBANE’S STEREO 10 RETURNS ONLINE

Brisbane Top 40 AM station Stereo 10, which closed in 1988 after a three-year run, has returned as an online station courtesy of its more avid listeners.

Led by Robbie Cohen, they set up a Facebook in 2014, which got enough support to become a website and podcast.

The latest incarnation was launched on 10.8.17 @10.08 to pay tribute to the station’s original 1008 call sign, while the Post Box is 1008 Archerfield, Queensland 4108.

AUSSIE SVOD SUBSCRIPTION RISES 30%

Tech analyst firm Telsyte’s SVOD Market Study shows that 3.7 million Australians have taken out a subscription to at least one SVOD service. This is 30% up from last year.

It predicted, “Popularity of exclusive and original content, as well as live streaming, is expected to continue to the drive the market to 2021 when subscriptions are expected to exceed 6 million.”

48% of SVOD subscribers say they rarely watch free-to-air TV any more. The study forecast the number of Australian streaming users would exceed that of pay TV customers within 12 months

In other studies, OzTam data indicates that while FTA broadcast television is viewed by 83.7% of people each week, our television viewing habits are becoming more flexible.

A record 6.9 million Australians streamed more than 1.5 billion minutes of catch-up and live streaming content in the past month.

There’s been a 25% rise in TV streaming over the past four months. Of the 6.9 million streaming OTT content, 5.8 million were watching FVOD (free video on demand), compared to the 4.3 million Australians streaming subscription video on demand (SVOD).

AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OFFERS AWARDS

The Australia Council Awards – which cover literature, visual arts, theatre and experiment arts – also have the Don Banks Music Award.

It was named after the composer and performer who was the first Chair of the Music Board. It is to recognise someone “who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia”.

There is also the Kirk Robson Award for a young artist or arts worker under 30 who demonstrates leadership in community arts and cultural development (CACD).

Closing date for nominations for the 2018 awards is Tuesday October 3.

YOUTH ARTS SUMMIT IN OCTOBER

The 2017 National Youth Arts Summit, to bring together artists and arts workers engaged in art making with, and for, children and young people, in all art forms, meets in Adelaide on Friday October 6.

ACT FESTIVALS, EVENTS, ACCESS TO FUNDS

ACT festival and music event promoters are invited to apply to the ACT Event Fund for projects in 2018. See www.events.act.gov.au.

The Fund was established to stimulate and foster a range of positive economic, social and community outcomes for the Canberra region through the festival and events sector.

VALE

• South Australian-born jazz singer and pianist Janet Seidel started out performing during her college days in Adelaide in the 1970s, forming a trio with her bassist brother David and drummer Billy Ross. By the 2000s she had expanded to the cabaret scene of her adopted home Sydney.
  Releasing18 albums, she toured through the UK, USA, Europe, the Middle East and many South East Asian countries. She was particularly huge in Japan where she consistently appeared in world’s greatest jazz singer polls and her 2005 album Moon of Manakoora topped the jazz charts for three months.
  Seidel died after succumbing to cancer at 62.
• NZ-born singer songwriter Jo Ramirezwas also involved in cultural festivals, awards ceremonies, rock ’n’ roll tours, marketing, PR and sponsorship management in Auckland, Wellington and Australia. She combined her songs with her career as a children’s writer withToot – The World’s Tiniest Whale (2015), penning the theme song for its live versions, ’Keep On Swimming’. She was on her honeymoon in Vanuatu when she died in an accident.
• Since the early ‘70s, radio presenter Terry Kerr worked in Queensland’s regional stations as well as in Brisbane where he did the breakfast slots for 4BC, 4AK and Stereo 10. He was also the co-founder of Power FM Toowoomba and last year madehis acting debut in a mystery movie.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …

After a 12-month engagement Deadmau5 married his long term girlfriend Kelly Fedoni on the weekend.

Nine Network’s The Voice was the second-most popular reality TV series for children aged 0-14 years in 2016. A study commissioned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found this demo is glued to more reality TV. Masterchef Australia was the most watched.

Foxtel’s MAX channel will premiere Midnight Oil’s Kings of the Mountain on Sunday September 3 from 10am. The two hour special includes band members revealing anecdotes on the making of their videos.

Jay Walkerden, Head of Podcasting, NOVA Entertainment. Richard Fidler of the ABC’s Conversations, Sharon Taylor of Omny Studio and Claire Tonti of Planet Broadcasting are among speakers at OzPod 2017 on Friday September 8, 9.00am – 5.00pm at ABC Ultimo.

Eskimo Joe team with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for a 21-year career retro performance at Perth Concert Hall on Friday February 23.

Stevie Nicks has especially invited Lorde and her parents to her Auckland shows in November so she could meet them all, Stuff reports. The singer was upset that she hadn’t realised Lorde and her family came to Fleetwood Mac concert in 2015. Nicks said, “She is a little odd too, and that’s why I like her.”

Cancer survivor Niles Rodgers was hospitalized with a mystery ailment when Chic and Earth Wind & Fire’s North American tour rolled into Toronto on the weekend.

Singer and actor Johnny Ruffo needed emergency surgery in Sydney to remove a brain tumour. He went in thinking he had a bad migraine.

Brisbane nightclub operator and Chairman of the (Fortitude) Valley Liquor Accord, Nick Braban, briefly faced Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of cocaine possession and had his case adjourned to September 4.

Blue Mountains-based metal scribe Brian Giffin, who runs the Loud Online site and published The Encyclopaedia of Australian Heavy Metal, has published his first novel Aftermath. It reflects his love for metal and end-of-the-world scenarios, with a 16 year old private school girl and a biker escaping to the mountains after an alien virus wipes out most of Sydney.

More than 400 people applied for the role of Dorothy in the John Frost and Suzanne Jones production of The Wizard of Oz which premieres in Brisbane in November.

Legendary Canadian studio Le Studio was destroyed by fire. It’s been closed since 2008, and destined to keep its doors closed when a crowd-funding campaign by owners to raise $2.4 million to revive it brought in just $4000. Among records made there were Sting’s The Dream of the Blue Turtles, the Bee Gees’ Children of the World and Cat Stevens’ Numbers.

As noted yesterday by TMN, JB Hi-Fi posted huge revenues. But not in New Zealand where it had a $2.3 million loss after a $1 million profit in 2016. JB Hi-Fi bigwigs are currently working on a new strategy.